Bernard Joseph "Joe" Szymanski

Joe Szymanski passed away surrounded by his loving family after a short illness on Thursday, April 15, 2021.  He was born in Wilmington, Delaware on March 29, 1941 to the late William C. and Dorothy Szymanski.  He attended St. Matthew's Elementary and Conrad High School.  Joe was a devoted member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church, serving as an usher for the past several years.

Joe will be fondly remembered as a master of all trades.  If something needed to be built or fixed, Joe was the guy to call.  He took great pride in the homes he crafted for his family from the ground up.  Joe began his professional career as a house painter and went on to be a machinist at Celanese/American Can Company and a Machine Designer at Hocker Manufacturing in Lewes, Delaware.  He progressed from Machine Operator to Mechanical and Management Associate working in a supervisory position due to his dedication and strong work ethic.  He continued his trade as a Tool Maker at General Motors where he retired after 24 years.  Joe was well respected by his co-workers with whom he kept in touch throughout the years.

Joe was an enthusiastic mechanic of cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and anything else with an engine.  He enjoyed spending time maintaining his homes in Newark and Lewes.  Joe loved crabbing, boating and working on multiple projects, especially in the company of family and friends.  He found peace attending and serving the church each week at Sunday mass.

Joe's greatest source of pride came from his family.  He is survived by the love of his life Bernadette "Bernie" (Wolos) Szymanski to whom he was married for almost 60 years, his son Joseph B. and daughter-in-law Mary Ann, his granddaughters Mandy and Krista, his daughter Donna Monroe and son-in-law Ken Monroe, his grandsons Kenny and Nicky, and his beloved cat Gracie.  Joe was lucky to be a brother to four very close siblings and two brothers-in-law.  He was predeceased by his parents and mother-in-law Helen Lewis, sister Geraldine Walsh (Joe, deceased) and brother Stanley K. Szymanski, Sr. (Jackie). He is survived by his brother William A. (Pat) and sister Mary Ann Reece (Joe, deceased), his brothers-in-law Edward Wolos (Elouise) and Jack Wolos (Linda, deceased), as well as all of their families.  Joe was a family man who considered himself blessed by special relatives and friends.  

Family and friends are invited to visit at St. Matthew's Church, Woodcrest on Tuesday, April 20 from 10:00-11:45AM.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00PM, followed by entombment at All Saints Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joe to St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 901 E. Newport Pike, Woodcrest, Wilmington, DE 19804.

*PLEASE NOTE: Funeral arrangements for Joe will be conducted in compliance with COVID-19 directives, which require mandatory face masks, social distancing and monitored occupancy.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bernard Joseph "Joe" Szymanski, please visit our floral store.